TORONTO – For a player who is fond of saying he takes nothing for granted, LeBron James had a confession to make after the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 113-87 and advanced to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season.
“I didn’t appreciate last year, myself personally, on getting to the Finals,” the NBA superstar said.
Why?
“Just so much was going on in my mind, knowing that Kev (Kevin Love) was out for the rest of the season and knowing that Ky (Kyrie Irving) was dealing with injuries all the way from the first round. I just didn't appreciate it,” James said.
And now?
“It’s definitely a different feeling,” he said.
Yes, it is. There's a noticeable camaraderie between the three players. The Cavs are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time, and Irving and Love are healthy. Cleveland’s Big 3 is playing like so many expected when they teamed up before the 2014-15 season.
The difference this season? James doesn’t have to shoulder the load in the playoffs. He doesn’t need a triple-double or close to one every game for the Cavs to win.
In Game 6, James had 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists; Irving had 30 points and nine assists; Love had 20 points and 12 rebounds. And it was the second consecutive game they each scored at least 20 points.
“We wouldn't be at this point today going to the Finals without those two,” James said. “Throughout the first three rounds, they've been the reason why we've played at such a high level. They've accepted the challenge. They wanted to get back to this moment. Ky being out seven months, this guy (Love) doing rehab for three-and-a-half months on his shoulder, they just had so much built up anxiety or rage or excitement or whatever the case may be throughout the whole process. Just to be back on the floor and to show why we were all put together.”
In 14 games this postseason:
- James is averaging 24.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and seven assists and shooting 63% from the field.
- Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 5.1 assists and shooting 48% from the field and 45.6% on three-pointers.
- Love is averaging 17.3 points and 9.6 rebounds and shooting 44.6% on three-pointers.
Irving missed the final five games of last season’s finals with a fractured knee cap, but his knee was not right throughout the 2015 playoffs.
“I just remember having that knee brace on, and it just didn't feel the same hobbling into the locker room knowing that we were going to the Finals but wasn't at full strength, and Kev was out,” Irving said. “Thinking about just the steps it took to get back to where we are now, I really have a true appreciation for these guys and my teammates and just a true appreciation of the journey. This is what it's about, everything that's built up throughout the regular season coming to this point – ups and downs.”
Love injured his shoulder in Game 4 of the first round against the Boston Celtics last season. It’s clear the Cavs are most effective when he’s engaged offensively and scoring.
“Having these guys right here at full strength, having our team at full strength, and the way I feel personally, I appreciate this moment, to be able to be a part of it and to be there once again,” said James who is going to his sixth consecutive NBA Finals.
But there’s still that elusive title for Cleveland, where a major pro sports franchise hasn’t won a major championship since 1964.
“We're still not satisfied. We're still not satisfied at all,” Irving said. “There's still a goal at hand that we have to accomplish, and I know these guys are going to be ready for it, and so will I.”
